After her divorce, Naomi K Lewis puts aside her neurosis and fear of travel and follows the path of her Opa from the Netherlands to France in 1942. This is more of an exploration of resilience and Jewish identity than travelogue, it isn't glamourous in any way. Lewis thoroughly examines her identity by retracing steps taken in harrowing circumstances. There isn't a blinding epiphany, but Lewis shares her thoughts and examines ways of processing her own journey after marriage.
I really did not enjoy the author's narration on this audio book, it was too quick, whiny and lacked the delivery needed to relay this narrative. Voice actors exist for a reason, I read a physical copy to complete this book rather than continue to listen to the audio copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and University of Alberta Press for the audiobook ARC!

Tiny Lights for Travelers is a really interesting concept. The author writes about following the same route her Jewish grandfather did in his attempt to escape the push of the Nazis across Europe during WWII. And in doing so, she confronts her own failed marriage, her religious questing (and questioning), and the death of a close friend, among other things. Quite an interesting read, and very nicely narrated by the author.

Tiny Lights for Travellers by Naomi K. Lewis
Narrated by Naomi K. Lewis

Naomi lets us into her journey and the parts of her grandfather's journey that she can read and remember from things he said or didn't say. Naomi suffers from topographical disorientation and extreme anxiety but after her divorce she decides to retrace her grandfather's escape from Nazi occupied Netherlands in the summer of 1942. Naomi's topographical disorientation makes such a journey, alone, a major feat. Anxiety would make it a major feat. Mixed in with the past of Naomi's grandfather is Naomi's identity as a secular Jew. This is where I had such a disconnect from the story and what that part of the story entails. I don't understand the arguments that are related concerning ethnic Jews, religious Jew, who belongs, who doesn't, who is right and who is wrong. I urge readers of this review to read other reviews because other reviewers were able to grasp this story the way its meant to be grasped and understood.

Thank you to University of Alberta Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

2.5 stars
I found this audiobook hard to get through. I requested it thinking that it would be a story about the author retracing her grandfather’s life yet it’s mainly about Naomi herself, her questioning her ethnicity, her anxiety, her nose job (1 hour and 15 minute chapter talking about her nose surgery)……
The narration is a high pitched voice with no distinction between characters so it was hard to tell which character was speaking.
According to other reviews it is a 4-5 star read so that may be the better option rather than the audio.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #UniversityofAlbertaPress for this ARC. This opinion is my own.